Breast feeding timer

Abstract

One embodiment of this invention has an electronic circuit which is configured to count the elapsed time in minutes since the initiation of a nursing session. The elapsed time is indicated on a visual display (23) which also includes a right/left breast subdisplay (23d) for indicating the breast from which the baby last fed, which is also the breast to be used when the baby starts feeding again. Breast feeding timer (10) includes a reference clock (11), a clock counter (14), an alarm counter (16), a three digit digital display (23), including a separate right/left subdisplay (23d), an audible alarm (26), and plurality of switches for controlling and initiating stop, start, reset, alarm program, and right/left selection display functions.

Accordingly, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A breast feeding timer and breast indicating circuit which comprises: timer means being configured to time an interval starting at the beginning of a first feeding and ending at the beginning of a second feeding;   alarm means being connected and responsive to said timer means for generating an alarm signal after a user programmed interval of time has expired since the initiation of a feeding;   timer control means being connected to said timer means for starting, stopping and resetting said timer means;   alarm program and control means being connected to said alarm means for programming an alarm time interval into said alarm means and for starting, stopping and resetting said alarm means;   right/left breast indicator selector and control means for alternately generating between right and left breast signals;   display means being connected to said timer means and said right/left breast selector and control means for displaying times corresponding to the amount of time elapsed since the initiation of a prior feeding, the amount of time expired since the initiation of a current feeding, the time duration of a feeding interval and an indication of either the right or left breast; and   power supply means being connected to said timer means, said alarm means, said breast selector means; said timer control means; said alarm program and control means, and said display means for supplying energy to the same.   
     
     
       2. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising: a back light being attached in juxtaposition to said display and disposed to illuminate said display to facilitate reading of said display in low ambient light conditions;   back light control means being connected to said back light and to said power supply means for selectively activating said back light.   
     
     
       3. The circuit of claim 2 further comprising: a low power supply indicator being connected to said power supply means for monitoring the power level of said power supply means; and   said display further being connected to said low power supply indicator and configured to display an indication of a low power supply condition.   
     
     
       4. The circuit of claim 3 wherein said right/left breast indicator selector and control means comprises: a first debounced toggle switch for generating either a right or a left signal; and   said display having a right and left indicator being connected to said toggle switch for displaying either a right or a left indication.   
     
     
       5. The circuit of claim 4 wherein said timer means and said timer control means comprise: a frequency reference for generating clock pulses;   a second debounced toggle switch for generating timer enable and disable signals;   a first binary counter being connected to said frequency reference and said second toggle switch for counting said clock pulses and generating an output signal whose magnitude represents a particular time interval; and   a first debounced momentary switch being connected to said counter for generating a reset signal to reset said counter.   
     
     
       6. The circuit of claim 5 wherein said alarm means and said alarm program and control means comprise: a third debounced toggle switch for generating a program signal;   an alarm program clock being connected to said third toggle switch and to said second toggle switch for generating program clock pulses;   a second binary counter being connected to said alarm program clock for counting said program clock pulses and generating an output signal whose magnitude represents a programmed time interval; and   comparator means for comparing the magnitudes of the first and second counter outputs for generating a alarm signal when the magnitudes are equal to one another.   
     
     
       7. The circuit of claim 6 wherein said display means comprises a three digit numerical LCD readout including a subdisplay having its segments disposed to alternately display a right or left breast indication. 
     
     
       8. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said right/left breast indicator selector and control means comprises: a first debounced toggle switch for generating either a right or a left signal; and   said display having a right and left indicator being connected to said toggle switch for displaying either a right or a left indication.   
     
     
       9. The circuit of claim 8 wherein said timer means and said timer control means comprise: a frequency reference for generating clock pulses;   a second debounced toggle switch for generating timer enable and disable signals;   a first binary counter being connected to said frequency reference and said second toggle switch for counting said clock pulses and generating an output signal whose magnitude represents a particular time interval; and   a first debounced momentary switch being connected to said counter for generating a reset signal to reset said counter.   
     
     
       10. The circuit of claim 9 wherein said alarm means and said alarm program and control means comprise: a third debounced toggle switch for generating a program signal;   an alarm program clock being connected to said third toggle switch and to said second toggle switch for generating program clock pulses;   a second binary counter being connected to said alarm program clock for counting said program clock pulses and generating an output signal whose magnitude represents a programed time interval; and   comparator means for comparing the magnitudes of the first and second counter outputs for generating a alarm signal when the magnitudes are equal to one another.   
     
     
       11. The circuit of claim 10 wherein said display means comprises a three digit numerical LCD readout including a subdisplay having its segments disposed to alternately display a right or left breast indication. 
     
     
       12. The circuit of claim 2 wherein said right/left breast indicator selector and control means comprises: a first debounced toggle switch for generating either a right or a left signal; and   said display having a right and left indicator being connected to said toggle switch for displaying either a right or a left indication.   
     
     
       13. The circuit of claim 12 wherein said timer means and said timer control means comprise: a frequency reference for generating clock pulses;   a second debounced toggle switch for generating timer enable and disable signals;   a first binary counter being connected to said frequency reference and said second toggle switch for counting said clock pulses and generating an output signal whose magnitude represents a particular time interval; and   a first debounced momentary switch being connected to said counter for generating a reset signal to reset said counter.   
     
     
       14. The circuit of claim 13 wherein said alarm means and said alarm program and control means comprise: a third debounced toggle switch for generating a program signal;   an alarm program clock being connected to said third toggle switch and to said second toggle switch for generating program clock pulses;   a second binary counter being connected to said alarm program clock for counting said program clock pulses and generating an output signal whose magnitude represents a programed time interval; and   comparator means for comparing the magnitudes of the first and second counter outputs for generating a alarm signal when the magnitudes are equal to one another.   
     
     
       15. The circuit of claim 14 wherein said display means comprises a three digit numerical LCD readout including a subdisplay having its segments disposed to alternately display a right or a left breast indication. 
     
     
       16. The circuit of claim 2 wherein said timer means and said timer control means comprise: a frequency reference for generating clock pulses;   a second debounced toggle switch for generating timer enable and disable signals;   a first binary counter being connected to said frequency reference and said second toggle switch for counting said clock pulses and generating an output signal whose magnitude represents a particular time interval; and   a first debounced momentary switch being connected to said counter for generating a reset signal to reset said counter.   
     
     
       17. The circuit of claim 16 wherein said alarm means and said alarm program and control means comprise: a third debounced toggle switch for generating a program signal;   an alarm program clock being connected to said third toggle switch and to said second toggle switch for generating program clock pulses;   a second binary counter being connected to said alarm program clock for counting said program clock pulses and generating an output signal whose magnitude represents a programed time interval; and   comparator means for comparing the magnitudes of the first and second counter outputs for generating a alarm signal when the magnitudes are equal to one another.   
     
     
       18. The circuit of claim 17 wherein said display means comprises a three digit numerical LCD readout including a subdisplay having its segments disposed to alternately display a right or a left breast indication. 
     
     
       19. The circuit of claim 2 wherein said timer means and said timer control means comprise: a frequency reference for generating clock pulses;   a second debounced toggle switch for generating timer enable and disable signals;   a first binary counter being connected to said frequency reference and said second toggle switch for counting said clock pulses and generating an output signal whose magnitude represents a particular time interval; and   a first debounced momentary switch being connected to said counter for generating a reset signal to reset said counter.   
     
     
       20. The circuit of claim 19 wherein said alarm means and said alarm program and control means comprise: a third debounced toggle switch for generating a program signal;   an alarm program clock being connected to said third toggle switch and to said second toggle switch for generating program clock pulses;   a second binary counter being connected to said alarm program clock for counting said program clock pulses and generating an output signal whose magnitude represents a programed time interval; and   comparator means for comparing the magnitudes of the first and second counter outputs for generating a alarm signal when the magnitudes are equal to one another.   
     
     
       21. The circuit of claim 20 wherein said display means comprises a three digit numerical LCD readout including a subdisplay having its segments disposed to alternately display a right or a left breast indication. 
     
     
       22. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said display means comprises a three digit numerical LCD readout including a subdisplay having its segments disposed to alternately display a right or a left breast indication.